When Danica makes history, everybody gains

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 6:41 p.m.

The big news as Speedweeks began last week was Danica Patrick's involvement — not just in the Daytona 500, but also her romantic involvement with fellow racer Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Media across the nation noted the romance — or "racemance," as some called it — was overshadowing more important race issues, including the introduction of Generation 6 race cars at the Daytona 500.

Now the big story is Danica Patrick, the racer.

Patrick won the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500 by posting a lap of 196.434 mph in her No. 10 Chevrolet. She is the first woman to claim such a position for the Daytona 500, or for any Sprint Cup Series race. She outran 44 other drivers to earn the best place to be at the start of the race.

Patrick's racing success is good news for everyone.

Her performance during qualifying should make NASCAR fans proud, and excited. Patrick didn't just break a glass ceiling. She sped through it like it never existed. She and her team deserve great credit.

Having Patrick at the front of the pack should also mean a bigger audience for the Daytona 500. Daytona International Speedway officials anticipate more fans will attend the biggest race of the season, and Fox Sports is no doubt looking forward to a bigger television audience, too. When more fans come to the track, that translates into more commerce for area hotels, restaurants, and retailers.

Patrick's fellow drivers are intensely competitive, and all of them will try to best her Sunday. But even the drivers like the buzz that Patrick's success is creating for their sport. Patrick the racer is now what other drivers will focus on — not her biography, her celebrity or her gender.

"It's huge," four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon said after Patrick won the pole. "I've always been a big believer in what is good for the sport is good for all of us."

Patrick has always handled the issue of gender in a dichotomous way.

On one hand, she doesn't shy away from discussing the issue. And she's appeared in some GoDaddy.com commercials that don't exactly shy away from highlighting that she is a woman.

But Patrick has also always stressed she is a racer to be taken seriously.

"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," Patrick has said.

For now, at least, people will continue to take note of Patrick's latest success precisely because she is a female racer. Many taking note will be women and girls, for Patrick's pole-position win proves a woman can race to be No. 1 even in a sport that has for so long been dominated by men.

Patrick has done more than just grab some additional publicity for herself. In earning the top spot at the start of the Daytona 500, she has cast a brighter-than-ever spotlight on NASCAR. And, she has made herself an even greater role model to fans and future racers.

Danica Patrick hasn't won a stock-car race yet. But she has proven without a doubt that she belongs on Daytona's 2.5-mile tri-oval. She's captured our imagination, not as a woman driver, but as a driver, period.

The Daytona 500 just got a lot more interesting. That is great news for everyone.

<p>The big news as Speedweeks began last week was Danica Patrick's involvement &mdash; not just in the Daytona 500, but also her romantic involvement with fellow racer Ricky Stenhouse Jr. </p><p>Media across the nation noted the romance &mdash; or "racemance," as some called it &mdash; was overshadowing more important race issues, including the introduction of Generation 6 race cars at the Daytona 500. </p><p>Now the big story is Danica Patrick, the racer. </p><p>Patrick won the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500 by posting a lap of 196.434 mph in her No. 10 Chevrolet. She is the first woman to claim such a position for the Daytona 500, or for any Sprint Cup Series race. She outran 44 other drivers to earn the best place to be at the start of the race. </p><p>Patrick's racing success is good news for everyone. </p><p>Her performance during qualifying should make NASCAR fans proud, and excited. Patrick didn't just break a glass ceiling. She sped through it like it never existed. She and her team deserve great credit. </p><p>Having Patrick at the front of the pack should also mean a bigger audience for the Daytona 500. Daytona International Speedway officials anticipate more fans will attend the biggest race of the season, and Fox Sports is no doubt looking forward to a bigger television audience, too. When more fans come to the track, that translates into more commerce for area hotels, restaurants, and retailers. </p><p>Patrick's fellow drivers are intensely competitive, and all of them will try to best her Sunday. But even the drivers like the buzz that Patrick's success is creating for their sport. Patrick the racer is now what other drivers will focus on &mdash; not her biography, her celebrity or her gender. </p><p>"It's huge," four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon said after Patrick won the pole. "I've always been a big believer in what is good for the sport is good for all of us." </p><p>Patrick has always handled the issue of gender in a dichotomous way. </p><p>On one hand, she doesn't shy away from discussing the issue. And she's appeared in some GoDaddy.com commercials that don't exactly shy away from highlighting that she is a woman. </p><p>But Patrick has also always stressed she is a racer to be taken seriously. </p><p>"I was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl," Patrick has said. </p><p>For now, at least, people will continue to take note of Patrick's latest success precisely because she is a female racer. Many taking note will be women and girls, for Patrick's pole-position win proves a woman can race to be No. 1 even in a sport that has for so long been dominated by men. </p><p>Patrick has done more than just grab some additional publicity for herself. In earning the top spot at the start of the Daytona 500, she has cast a brighter-than-ever spotlight on NASCAR. And, she has made herself an even greater role model to fans and future racers. </p><p>Danica Patrick hasn't won a stock-car race yet. But she has proven without a doubt that she belongs on Daytona's 2.5-mile tri-oval. She's captured our imagination, not as a woman driver, but as a driver, period. </p><p>The Daytona 500 just got a lot more interesting. That is great news for everyone.</p>